Clity clack sound during engine startup...what is it?

[orangeblast22]

The sound runs for about a second or so. Sometimes it's more aggressive sounding....more harsher than usual and other times I can't hear it at all. It almost reminds me of a diesel engine sound. This is on a V6 2006 4x4 and again, it plays for about a second.

Anyone know what I'm talking about? I ask because I'm concerned about how harsh it sounds sometimes...that's how I picked up on it. It could have been there all this time and I never realized the sound was a normal thing....or not? Anyone?

 

[thennen]

Sounds like oil starvation, like the oil isn’t getting to the cams quickly. Are you running high viscosity oil?

 

[waypoint]

What oil filter are you running, and what oil brand and viscosity?

 

[orangeblast22]

I have to take a look to see what oil filter I'm using, I'm at my office right now.

As for oil, its 5W-20 Mobile1 - been running 5W-20 for some time now and I reside in Southern California, so temperatures are always warm enough for it. Gas mileage increased too with it.

I forgot to add something important, my oil level was low. Apparently, the bolt/seal for the oil wasn't tight enough and I had been slowly dripping oil out for the past few months. I added more oil, tightened the bolt - but still this sound remains.

 

[MikeinNH67]

Mine does the same, usually the first start of the day. After that all quiet. I've wondered if it's the chain tensioners pumping up.

 

[djpope09]

I have to take a look to see what oil filter I'm using, I'm at my office right now.

As for oil, its 5W-20 Mobile1 - been running 5W-20 for some time now and I reside in Southern California, so temperatures are always warm enough for it. Gas mileage increased too with it.

I forgot to add something important, my oil level was low. Apparently, the bolt/seal for the oil wasn't tight enough and I had been slowly dripping oil out for the past few months. I added more oil, tightened the bolt - but still this sound remains.

Is that the 5W-20 Mobil1 Fuel Economy oil? I saw that last time I was looking at oil in Walmart and wondered if anyone had tried it. The bottle says it replaces 5W-30, but my engine is so old I'm not sure I want to try that lol.